HRSR INFORMATION #1 05-02-2005INFORMI~TION
ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS WWW.TWINCITIES.COM
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HASTINGS
+River~ront ro '
ert is to is of debat
p p y p e
Is housing best use Hastings hopes to develop riverfront "There isn't anything in
of high-profile site? The Hastings City Council will vote next week on whether to approve downtown Hastings that is eom-
the first phase of atwo-building condominium development along parable to this," Abdo said "In
Second Street. The project would encompass "Block 2" of three front of this building is going to
BY FREDERICK MELO riverfront blocks that have piqued the interest of developers. be a levee park, where the city lS
Pioneer Press in the process of developing
a~fississrppt ~ plans to have an esplanade. So
To developers, the land along ^ Lower level parking the residents in our project will
the Mississippi River in down- ^ Four floors residential have ,
Park great views of the river and
town Hastings waits like an ^ Two floors ^ 2nd level roof garden mess to all the amenities that
untapped cash cow To residents, residential ~' the city provides."
the land represents an opportu- ^ Main floor retail ~ st St. I The second phase of the
pity to infuse more commercial ~ development would be a three-
bustle into the sleepy waterfront, Future site ~ r , ~T ; Future story building on the south side
which has changed little the past development ~ , ' '"~~ i • ~ ' residential of the block. The building would
100 years. ~ Garaen ~. Y .development include 26 to 30, condo units on
"The river is a huge resource ~ . ~ ~'
charade tn': ~. the second and third floors, with
for the city," said Dan Greil, - . •-- the first floor dedicated to office
chairman of the city's planning
' ~ future - I and retail space. The site is the
commission. "Combined with home of the former Eddy Phar-
the historic nature of downtown, Existing ~ F ~ ~ ~ V: ~ dP ~eln uent macy, a graphic des' business,
(that) makes rt a challenge to ~-J -~~ ~rT' ~
the Spiral Foods co-op and a
find the right development that zed st. vacant storefront.
can leverage the historic chaaac- 's r - No timetable has been set for
ter, but still make good use of the ~ constructi n
q ~_ ~ o of the second butld-
river. ~,~~ ~~~ , 6, `, ing, but Abdo has opened a
Disagreements among city o, ,cr ~ uAicora " ~ model showroom at 311 Second
officials over how to draw visi- 4 c o u rt T r
r ` ~' Cp. St. and on the Web at
tors and foot traffic haven't ° - ~' - - Hastings wwwThreeRiversPlace.com,
stopped private developers from and he is already accepting
pushing their own ideas. The down a
Detail p yments on units.
City Council is scheduled to vote ~ Abdo said he has bou
Monda on the first hase of HAS 7 ~ N G 5 above ~ ~t
y P .2nd st. more than half the block over
Three Rivers Place - a proposal
~, ~ t,~ nntte the past two years, though a
to redevelop a downtown river- ~ ~ 3rd st. '-~"'"'~ large vacant lot on the north
front block into two condomini- ~ o ~ side is owned by the city's Hous-
um complexes, with a smattering ~ ~ 4~, ~t• Lake ~sabene ing and Redevelopment Authori-
o~ retail ~' ty, and the graphic des' store
The project is one of a hand- source: Three Rivers riace PiorveER Press remains in the hands o~ Hast-
- ful of plans in recent years that ings couple who appear open to
.would alter the commercial cen- City Council faces public pres- vote for it? If the neighborhood relocating.
•t~r of one of the state's oldest sure for new businesses -such property owners are for it, then Meanwhile, developers are
,, sties. as a hotel, museum or farmers' sure," said City Council Member also eyeing adjacent blocks. Just
The development proposed market - to enliven the area. Anthony Alongi, whose ward east of the site, Sherman and
by architects Tanek and Associ- Meanwhile, the city's Heart of snakes along the Mississippi. "It Associates hopes to build hous-
-; ates, Minneapolis real estate Hastings master plan views the is something I campaigned on, ing, a large restaurant and ban-
; :attorney Robert Abdo and Nast- downtown core as primarily a improving downtown." quet hall along land currently
ixa<gs real estate appraiser Al retailing district; and zoning The first phase of Three owned by the city. Hastings real
.,: Most would consist of about 76 codes -which would have to be Rivers Place would be a 49-unit, estate executive Rick Ahern had
-.upscale lofts and condominiums amended for the proposal - four-floor residential building on tried previously to persuade city
on `Block 2," the acre-size area require development along Sec- the block's largely vacant north leaders to allow him to build a
north of Second Street and and Street to be commercial on side, bordering the river, with 83 water park and 100-room Holi-
;bounded by Ramsey Street, the first floor. underground parking spots and day Inn on the land, but the plan
..Tyler Street and the river. But officials are also reluc- 11 outside. The site is currently fell apart because of financial
Along with concerns about tant to let amultimillion-dollar home to a house, a barn and concerns.
parking and the project's height, investment in downtown rede- vacant brewery building. If the
some city officials have ques- velopment pass by. City Council grants approval Frederick Melo can be reached at
boned the wisdom of dedicating "There are a couple of things next week, Abdo hopes to begin finelo@pioneerpress.com or
most of the block to housing. The I don't like about it, but will I still construction by June. s51-22s-2172.